Sophomore ARANTXA FONSECA added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Knights.

FCHS junior ELLIE TURK came home with a unique triple-double of 15 points, 15 steals and 14 assists.

Granite Hills’ JAYLEE JONES had a basket early that tied the game at 2-all.

However, Fonseca scored seven of the Knights’ next 19 points as FCHS led 21-2 after the end of the first quarter.

“I always try to be better each game,” Fonseca said. “I want to beat every team until we win CIF (Division 4). “It’s not going to be easy, but I know and I trust my team, I’m really happy to be at FCHS.”

Turk had a pair of three-pointers in the contest, as dominant Foothills worked on their ball movement and execution against the rebuilding Eagles.

“I feel as though we are starting to work very well together as a team,” Turk said. “While we outmatched our opponent we need to continue to work as a team. Hard work is beginning to pay off which is very exciting for all of us but we respect and enjoyed playing against Granite Hills. Even though they are young and inexperienced they fought and played really hard.”

In addition to her 20 points, Bravo added five rebounds and four steals.

Foothills Christian at the free throw line on Tuesday night. / photo by Dave Dickens

“Nataly Bravo and Arantxa Saldana stood out to me very much tonight,” Turk said. “Their continual effort and ability to finish shots amazes me. I am extremely blessed to have them in the program this year.”

“I believe (Calvin Christian) is going to be our toughest competition that we have seen this year,” Turk said. “We played them last year and they were very dominant.

“I don’t think they lost many players that they had so they are going to be a strong group of girls.”

It was just the second game of the season for Granite Hills.

“We have gotten better from day one and that’s what I wanted to see tonight,” Granite coach BRIANA MARTINEZ. “We saw what we need to keep improving on. We just know we have to get back to work and prepare for Crawford next week.”

GROSSMONT 62, LINCOLN 58 – Remember the Foothillers?

Grossmont opened its season on Tuesday night with a good win at Lincoln.

The Foothiller girls must’ve been a little rusty, considering they trailed 26-8 at the end of the first quarter.

GHS still trailed 54-46 entering the fourth quarter, but by then, the Hillers’ had their engine fully revved for the stretch drive.

Grossmont outscored the Hornets 16-4 over the final eight minutes.

Senior ATHENA SOTELO, who helped lead the Foothillers to a SDS-CIF Division IV championship as a freshman way back in 2016, scored 22 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists.

“It was a great first game,” Sotelo said. “It was a team effort and a really great comeback. We won the game because no matter how far down we were we never gave up.”

“The comeback was great,” Giles said. “Felt good to get that first win We needed to play hard. (Coach GRACE CAMPBELL) said, ‘keep chipping away at the lead and play hard.'”

Sophomore guard DANECA PEREZ had 11 points, five steals and three rebounds.

“I’ve never really played a game where we came back like that,” said Perez, a transfer from Granite Hills. “This was probably the first, and I’m so happy with how we, as a team, were able to stay positive and stay in the game.”

Junior SARAH HENRY added 10 points and three rebounds for the Foothillers.

“We got off to a very bad start due to jitters,” Campbell said. “My girls stayed focused and was able to come back from a 20-point deficit.

“Daneca Perez’s defense shut down Lincoln’s best player. She limited her to only nine points.”

Five Patriots scored in double figures led by SIMONE JAMES’ 15 points, eight of which came in the third quarter.

“(That’s) a first this season and I liked that,” Christian head coach VICKIE CARRINGTON said of the double-figure scoring. “In my opinion, it should be that way in every game.”

Freshman SHYANN VAN KIRK scored 14 points and finished with a double-double, added 10 rebounds and also five blocks.

“Shyann stole the show,” Carrington said. “Once Shyann gets more confident in her game, she’s gonna dominate on the block. People won’t be able to stop her. She’s getting used to the pace of high-level basketball, and once she gets it, folks better watch out.”

Sophomore KRISTIN WILLIAMS drilled a pair of three-pointers and Van Kirk had a pair of late field goals in the first quarter as the Patriots led 18-15 after eight minutes.

“My success this game was being a lot more confident and finishing around the hoop because my teammates did a good job getting me the ball,” Van Kirk said. “I was also aggressive which resulted in getting boards. During the game I think we were very positive towards each other but. As a team we didn’t play our game, and we are a way better team then we showed today.

“Allie Carreon (had a) great game in every category,” Carrington said.

The Patriots closed out Vista Murrieta (1-7) in the fourth quarter.

“I am very proud of the effort off the bench. All four girls did what was asked of them.

“RAELYN MUECA is an excellent defender and she and JASMYN CRAWFORD did great.

“MAILANI AGUILA played hard, she’s one of the best at setting picks.She’s just got to trust herself, she’s a good player.”

Christian improved to 3-1 and has a marquee matchup next on Thursday at 6 against second-ranked Mission Hills at the Matador Classic.

“We need to focus on box outs,” Carrington said. “We didn’t rebound well as a team (22 overall) and we had 17 turnovers in which about 8 were unforced turnovers. We gave up easy buckets – our defense wasn’t bad but itwasn’t great either, yet we had some spurts of good solid defense, so I know we know what to do. “

The Patriots’ program is such a sharp-riser, Christian High is the only team in the section this season to jump two divisions (from Division III to Division I)

“We are still a work in progress, but it’s exciting,” Carrington. “We have potential with some solid talent, arguably some of the best players in San Diego County on our team.Just putting it all together, it’s a promising outlook.”

Honore was 7-for-7 at the free-throw line, while Taha had three three-pointers.

“Tonight was a great game,” Monte Vista coach SABRINA JIMENEZ said. “My girls came out ready to play. Torri and Sara took over. Those two played defense, got steals and scored.”

Senior ALYSSA MEDRANO added a three-pointer in the second quarter for Monte Vista, while freshman MEADOW DELINO added four points.

“We got to the basket and we were able to get sweetwater into some early foul trouble,” Jimenez added. “Sweetwater came out and played hard and scrappy. They are a respectable team, they never stopped playing.

The Monarchs got off to a 14-4 edge after one quarter and led 39-16 at halftime.

“Overall, my girls executed the game plan, moved the ball and found the open gaps,” Jimenez said.

Monte Vista is off to its first 3-1 start since 2012-13, a season in which it finished 24-7 and made it to the Division III semifinals. This year’s Monarchs compete in Division IV.

“I have a group of girls who love to compete,” Jimenez said. “We talk about roles a lot on our team, and playing to their strengths, so far they are doing a great job.”

RAMONA 57, EL CAJON VALLEY 29 – The Braves and Bulldogs battled to an 8-all draw after one quarter in a Matador Classic game until the visitors from up the 67 took a 21-14 lead into halftime.

The Braves (1-3) will travel to face Hoover in their next Matador Classic game on Saturday at 7.